It's Monday, what are you reading? (22)

Hosted by The Book Journey

Last week I finished reading:
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

A fun, entertaining, well-written MG. I definitely think Meloy is a multi-talented lady since I loved her adult short stories too.

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

A very powerful conclusion to the Crank trilogy, I can't believe I waited so long to read it. Hopkins' amazing job with three points-of-view makes me every more excited to check out some of her other work that's written that way. I still have an ARC of Triangles (thanks Ambur!) her adult novel, so I'll likely be reading that one soon.


Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

A new cover just got unveiled for this book, and I definitely prefer it and hope it helps draw the attraction for the novel that the story deserves. It's intense and exciting and well-written, my only complaint was the difficulty I had connecting to the main two characters, Hester and Ezra. Overall, Ambur and my readalongs have been 3/3 hits. I hope we get so lucky with the next book!

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman

Together, these poems are an imagining of what those final moments were like for Matthew Shepard, written from a variety of perspectives including inanimate objects like the fence he was tied to. It's a heartbreaking work, and great to see for a YA audience, but I did find some of the poems were a little too clever for their own good. I preferred the emotionally raw ones.

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Unexpectedly fell in love with Kelley Armstrong's YA last year when I got an ARC of The Gathering. Its sequel was even more intense! The excitement was amped up to the degree of the Darkest Powers trilogy. Loved it, loved it, loved it but wow cliffhanger. And now another year to wait for the finale, The Raising.

What I plan to read this week:
Flock by Wendy Delsol

Enjoying this final book in the trilogy so far! But a part of me is definitely sad to see it come to an end. I'll miss Katla.

Zero by Tom Leveen

Always love a good contemporary YA, and though I wasn't quite expecting to love this one, it's starting to grow on me and I'll be curious to see how I feel by the time I'm done.

Blue Nights by Joan Didion

Honestly, Didion's last memoir The Year of Magical Thinking about her husband dying was so moving, but so depressing, I didn't rush into this one when I got it. But I've heard she actually tells the story of her daughter's death in a less depressing way. I have very high expectations of the book regardless.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Didn't read it last week... maybe read it this week?

What are you reading this Monday?

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

 The Arrival by Shaun Tan
 
Release Date: October 12th 2007
Pages: 128
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Publisher: Lothian Books
Buy It: Book Depository

In this wordless graphic novel, Tan captures the struggles and joy of the immigrant experience through clear, mesmerizing images which tell the story of a man who leaves his homeland and his family to build a better life.

When this book was first recommended to me but my younger cousin, I admit that I was confused. A story with no words? But considering the topic of The Arrival: immigration, a story with no words is exactly the perfect way to tell it. In Tan's gorgeous drawings, even the names of signs are in an invented foreign language, so that just like the character, they make no sense to the reader. Instead, you are immersed into this world you don't understand, with no way to communicate, nobody to talk to: it is a powerful and emotionally compelling experience.

The Arrival has sad and happy moments, and the way that Tan visualizes certain emotions is poetic and real. In one instance, upon arriving in a new place, a man opens his suitcase and is filled with the warmth of home where his wife and daughter are eating supper. In another, there is the small victory of being able to communicate with a stranger.

And about the drawings... wow. They are so gorgeous and detailed, so many tiny pictures and portrait, it doesn't surprise me that this book was several years in the making. Tan is an incredibly talented artist, but he is also an incredibly talented storyteller. Overall, I was incredibly impressed and swept away by The Arrival and I will definitely be picking up more books by Tan in the future. Maybe even one with words.

Author Interview with Buffy Cram

1.  You've got quite a vagabond history, do your travels inspire your writing? Is there a specific story in Radio Belly that was inspired by a particular trip ("The Moustache Conspiracy" perhaps?)

Living and working all over the world has definitely inspired my writing. It has exposed me to all kinds of different realities, which may be why “reality” is such an ambiguous thing in my fiction. Several of the stories: “Loveseat,” “Refugee Love” and “Floatables” were written while I was living in Buenos Aires. I was haunting the same cafes Borges and Cortazar used to write in and I must have absorbed some of their magic realist leanings. “Mrs. English Teacher” was directly influenced by (but loosely based on) my time teaching English in South Korea. And “The Moustache Conspiracy” is based on some of the paddling trips my dad used to take me on around Vancouver Island as a kid. So, yes, many of the places I’ve been work their way into my fiction.

2. Do you have a favourite place for writing? (Or even a favourite country?)

My hometown, Victoria, is still one of my favourite places to write. I’m able to go for long walks and not be interrupted by traffic or trams or crowds the way I am in other cities. I’m able to take a break from my writing and yet stay in the dream state from which I do my most creative work.

3. The stories in Radio Belly often deal with contemporary concerns, like the economy in "Large Garbage", in a slightly whimsical way; what made you decide to take a look at serious issues, often with a humorous eye?

It’s extremely important to me to be relevant to my readers and that means not avoiding the “big issues” of the day but tackling them head-on. Short fiction is so often overlooked and I think that’s because it has a reputation for being overly-precious or overly-subtle. But actually, when done right, short fiction is one of the most powerful ways I know to really get inside an issue and experience it first-hand. In order to be motivated, I need my writing to address the things that matter most to me— the economy, the environment, mental illness— but not in the usual “newsy” way. Whimsy and humour are my way of creating new perspective on these issues. My goal is to offer readers a safe way to see themselves and, by extension, an opportunity to laugh at themselves. I think there is great healing in that.

4. Interestingly, like the short story/memoir author, Charlotte Gill, who blurbed Radio Belly, you've also been recognized for your creative non-fiction. When you start a new piece, what makes you lean towards fiction or non-fiction? What are some of the differences for you between writing in the two genres? Do you have preference?

For me, fiction and non-fiction are two different gears within the same machine. They serve very different purposes. Sometimes the plain truth is the most powerful type of story. Adornment would just clutter the message. Other times, and often with more complicated or more fraught subject matter, the reader has to be drawn in more slowly and methodically. For example, if I were to write a non-fiction human-interest article about a family man who loses his home during the economic downturn, readers might turn away. They’ve heard it too many times before. It’s a downer and offers no solutions. But, if I’m to take that same story and dramatize it, and make it silly and imaginative, and then turn the issue on its head and make it so that the reader actually wants that man to lose his home (as in “Large Garbage”) it’s much more powerful.

5. How would you sum up Radio Belly in five words or less?

Great question! I would say: soft-lobbed, sometimes-funny, magical political poetry (okay, I cheated with the hyphens!)

6. The order selected for short story collections is always so interesting– was that something you decided on, and if you did, what made your decisions? How does the chronology of the stories in Radio Belly compare to the order that they were written in?

I’m so close to my stories, I can’t always see them clearly, so I really relied on my editor and publisher when deciding the order within the collection. In the end, one of the most important things we considered was pacing—it was important to start off with a bang. But it was also important to ease readers into my “otherworldly” point of view, which is why stories like “Radio Belly” and “Floatables” were put near the end. Interestingly enough, the order of the stories in the collection lines up pretty well with the order in which they were written, with the exception of “Floatables” which was one of my earliest stories.

7. What are some amazing books you've stumbled upon lately? Any Canadian fiction recommendations?

I was most recently living in Berlin where English books are a little scarcer and a little more expensive. I was getting my books from second-hand book stores and flea markets so I was reading a strange mix of older books: Steinbeck and Virginia Wolfe and Gertrude Stein. While there I did discover a wonderful German contemporary short fiction writer, Daniel Kehlmann and a wonderful new American short fiction writer, Ben Loory. And I had the pleasure of blurbing new Canadian writer Melanie Schnell’s powerful new book “While the Sun is Above Us.”

8. If you could have a dinner party with any five people, living or dead, who would they be?

My dinner party would be all dead people. I would invite Earnest Hemmingway, Hunter S. Thompson, Janice Joplin, Salvador Dali (he would do the cooking) and, hmmm, maybe my grandma who was supposedly a real entertainer.

9. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

My advice for aspiring authors is to try and write for at least an hour every (or most) days. Try not to focus on quality at first, but just on time spent in the act. I would also say don’t expect ideas for stories or characters to arrive fully formed—in more than a decade of writing this has almost never happened to me. Instead, think of writing like building an onion—you’re adding one thin layer at a time, a little bit every day, and only at the end of the process does the work start to resemble a single coherent idea.

10. What's next for you as a writer?

I’m having a lot of fun working on my novel, which will come out soonish with D&M. It’s about two kids who grow up on a schoolbus chasing the Grateful Dead across the country.

Growing up in a communal housing project on the tip of Vancouver Island, Buffy Cram spent most of her childhood running wild on beaches with a gang of kids her own age. Buffy has spent the last decade teaching and writing in Vancouver, Montreal, Boston, Texas, Mexico, South Korea, South America and various parts of Europe. She currently divides her time between San Francisco and Berlin, Germany. She writes by day, bartends by night and has a business making repurposed leather handbags on the side. 

Thanks so much to Buffy for stopping by In The Next Room! To learn more about her debut collection of short stories, Radio Belly, stop by her website or Facebook page. Click here to read my review of Radio Belly at In The Next Room.

Radio Belly by Buffy Cram

It's been way too long since I read a short story collection, but Cram's first book Radio Belly was a perfect reintroduction to the genre. It's a mix of quirky and serious, whimsical and sad and each story manages to be complete and satisfying on its own. While of course I had favourites, there wasn't a specific story that I would recommend skipping or that I didn't enjoy in some way.

In Radio Belly, Cram excels most when her stories are a little less literal. My favourites were the weirdest. There are nine stories, beginning with "Mineral by Mineral" in which a woman finds herself with a deep hunger for soil and other inedibles after her life falls apart. It's insightful and observant, the wry comments at which Cram is so good, passages like:

"If she had a warning label, it would read: “Good friend, not great. Talks more than listens. May or may not have a conscience. Manipulative in an emergency. Needs constant attention. May or may not be capable of authentic connections. Should not be exposed to displays of sickness, grief, shame. May contain traces of fraudulence."

In the second story, "Love Seat" was one I had difficulty to connecting to; it's a sort of twisted love story involving the Grateful Dead and a lot of tanning lotion and a radio show host. I actually enjoyed the beginning, before it got into all the Grateful Dead stuff, since I've never listened to the band and all the connections and symbols just didn't make sense to me. It might work better for an older, or more musically literate, reader.

"Large Garbage", the third story, was previously published in Darwin's Bastards, a collection edited by Zsuzsi Gartner (author of Better Living Through Plastic Explosives), who seems to be mentor of sorts for Cram, based on her author's note. "Large Garbage" was another story that was just twisted and strange enough to work, without losing me as a reader. It's filled with Cram's strange images and comparisons like,

"I was wondering how, exactly, was I different from this mushroom? I ate, I slept, I too grew larger and paler by the day."

"Mrs. English Teacher" and "Refugee Love" were the two stories I enjoyed the least from Radio Belly. In many ways, they were also the most normal. In the first, a young woman goes to teach English in a war-torn country, and although "Mrs. English Teacher" is filled with social commentary, the way it is shared often veered on slightly boring for me. "Refugee Love" is an older woman looking back on the 80s and dating and love, and once again, it felt well-written but uninspired, and I never connected with the narrator. Cram has such a vivid imagination, and in these two stories, it doesn't feel like it is reaching its full potential.

In contrast, the title story, "Radio Belly" and the final one in the collection, "Floatables: A History" were both incredibly odd and incredibly wonderful. "Radio Belly" features a young woman who starts receiving weird transmissions from her stomach following an appendectomy, while "Floatables" takes place a top of a rubber island, created in a post-apocalyptic world where mother nature is not to be trusted, only the rubber is beginning to peel away and reveal something suspiciously green.

Overall, Radio Belly was a strange and enjoyable collection of stories. Even though a couple missed the mark for me, I found myself loving Cram's quirky and original perspective, as well as her observant description and unique story-telling. Readers looking for a fresh short story collection, or even just something a little out of the ordinary, would be well served by picking up Radio Belly and I am excited to see what Cram publishes next.

It's Monday, what are you reading? (21)

Hosted by The Book Journey

Last week I finished reading:
Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Honestly, I prefer Like Mandarin, but this was an enjoyable second novel and I look forward to reading whatever Hubbard writes next!

Radio Belly by Buffy Cram

I miss short stories! I used to read a bunch of them and I haven't read a single collection this year. But this was the best way to start back in, an absolutely breath-taking debut. Funnily enough, it's blurbed by Charlotte Gill, who wrote Eating Dirt, a memoir I just finished.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Wasn't planning to read this but then I sorta, kinda, participated in the readathon on Saturday and needed a break so this graphic novel without any words was the perfect solution. Absolutely gorgeous drawings though, and a moving story. I'm so glad my little cousin recommended it to me and I definitely want to pick up more of Tan's work in the future.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I'm always intrigued by books involving the Holocaust, and this one had a unique perspective as 2/3rds of it is written by a prisoner of war. There were a few points were I found my eyes starting to glaze as it seemed to get a little long-winded, but overall a good book and a heart-breaking tale of friendship.

What I plan to read this week:
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

2/3s in, it's a lovely middle grade read, I just wish my ARC had more of the pictures! 

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

I'm way behind on reading this because... I'm not sure why. Library troubles and other excuses. But still, a third into it and it's weird not to read from Kristina's perspective like the first two books, but even more heart-breaking that it's her children instead.

Flock by Wendy Delsol

Just got approved for this on Netgalley and I am so excited but also a little sad: this is one of my favourite series and I can't believe it's coming to an end.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I've actually had this one since it was first released and was really excited to read it. It looks creepy and wonderful, but I've heard mixed things about the writing itself. Only one way to find out though!

What are you reading this Monday?

Readathon Updates April 2012

For those of you who, like me (until last night) were unaware, today is Dewey's 24 Readathon. I loved my last readathon experience (Dewey back in October), so I really wanted to join, but my lack of planning makes full participation impossible. Still, because I still want to be a part of it, I've got an update post going and hopefully I can spend lots of today reading (or what's left, I had to spend the morning doing errands).

I started reading at approximately 11:50 am, so I'm planning a 12 hour readathon for myself.

Update 1:
Reading: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (starting point p. 206)

Update 2 (11:50 AM-1:50 PM):

• I’ve read 40 pages and finished 0 books
• I’ve read for 2 hours

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (p.206-246)

It doesn't look like I read much cause I also made and ate lunch (twice, I made an avocado egg salad that turned out terrible, and ended up eating Indian leftovers). Hopefully I'll have better news to report by my next update!

Update 3 (1:50 PM-3:15 PM):

• I’ve read 222 pages and finished 1 book
• I’ve read for 3 hours and 25 minutes

The Arrival by Shaun Tan (128 Pages)
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (p.246-300)

I cheated! Well sorta. I read a book without any words. It was beautiful though, and a nice break from text. I've got 52 pages left in Code Name Verity so I'll definitely finish that by my next update. I'm having stomach pain though so I'm going to take a break now.

Update 4 (6:05 PM-6:55 PM):

• I’ve read 274 pages and finished 2 books
• I’ve read for 4 hours and 15 minutes

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (p.300-352)

Wow, I am kinda failing miserably at this readathon today! I ended up going to the movies with my boyfriend this afternoon (Jeff, Who Lives At Home) which was a nice break and outing but hasn't helped my reading. Anyway, as soon as I got home I buckled down to finish Wein's book... absolutely tragic ending. I'm not a hundred percent sure what I'll read next, I'm thinking The Apothecary by Maile Meloy that I'm about 40 pages into. Until then, happy reading everyone!

Update 5 (8:05 PM-8:55 PM):

• I’ve read 362 pages and finished 2 books
• I’ve read for 5 hours and 5 minutes

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy (p.46-134)

Another break, this time to cook and eat supper! But then I devoured a nice chunk of a book, so that has got to compensate a little bit. I've pretty much accepted my participation this time round will not be up to par, but it's still fun keeping this post and seeing how much reading I'm managing anyway.

Update 6 (9:00 PM-11:00 PM):

• I’ve read 568 pages and finished 2 books
• I’ve read for 7 hours and 5 minutes

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins (p.1-140)
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy (p.134-210)

Probably my last update for the day although I may read a little more, I'm getting tired and whatnot. Overall, it was a 'real' readathon by any means, but I still managed a decent chunk of reading, even if you exclude the graphic novel without words. Definitely plan to participate again in the future, hopefully with a little more advance notice.

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Release Date: March 13th 2012
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Random House
Also by this Author: Like Mandarin
Buy It: Book Depository

In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, 18-year-old Bria signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

When I said, after finishing Kirsten Hubbard's incredible debut novel Like Mandarin, that I wasn't quite to wait long to pick up her second novel, I wasn't kidding. Two weeks later I was diving into Wanderlove, with only the slightest touch of apprehension, because the storyline itself was not quite as appealing to me. While I didn't have quite the same heart-rush for Wanderlove as I did for Like Mandarin, the novel was still a great read: filled with adventure, growth, and heart.

The unusual settings– Guatemala and Belize– are brought to life by Hubbard's skilled description, and it's not surprising that she's worked as a travel writer for years. Travel love, wanderlove, the pages of this book exude it and it's probably impossible to finish the novel without having an instant desire to book plane tickets to Central America. In a way, Wanderlove makes the reader feel like they've had a firsthand look into what it would be like, that maybe, in a tiny way, a part of them has visited.

As incredible as Hubbard's setting and description were once again, there were a couple aspects that didn't quite live up to her debut novel for me. In particular, the dialogue didn't feel as natural, and in a few instances even came off as insincere. I felt like I had really gotten to know the characters, and it was hard to imagine them speaking that way. My second complaint might not be shared by those with a softer hear than me, but the ending, especially the last few pages, were just way too cheesy for me. Bria's journey hadn't been easy or straightforward, and to end things in such a corny way, felt false for me. But maybe I'm just cold-hearted. Finally, the whole no strings attached hookup storyline seemed a bit juvenile and pointless within the whole novel, the sort of tacked on component I'm not sure I would have missed.

What I definitely would have missed if they weren't a unique part of Wanderlove are the drawings, Bria's drawings, done by Hubbard herself, that are included throughout. As beautiful as they are, at first I was worried they'd be distracting from the story, but there are just enough to add, without taking away and jarring me out of the story. One or two, though well-drawn of course, might have been unnecessary, but I was willing to accept them because of the other 90% that were a complete benefit to the novel.

Bria also has a rich and authentic character development, and even though the novel takes place over 20 days, it really feels like she's changed by the end. Considering how life-altering travel can be, it really does fit, and the way that Hubbard's shows her past, through flashbacks, and her current experiences, made for a satisfying and believable change in Bria.

Overall, Wanderlove wasn't another Like Mandarin: it had its own unique cast of characters, incredible setting, and engaging story line, and while it didn't have quite the magic of my first Hubbard experience it is still a completely worthwhile and wonderful reading experience. I eagerly await Hubbard's next novel, and there better be some kind of announcement about it soon; I don't want to wait too long.

Croak by Gina Damico

Croak (Croak #1) by Gina Damico

Release Date: March 20th 2012
Pages: 311
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Buy It: Book Depository

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort in Croak for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

From the instant I heard about this novel, it made me think of the television show I loved, but lost too soon, Dead Like Me. The fact that I was a huge fan of the show, meant that not only was interested to pick up Croak, but I had fairly high standards for what I wanted out of it as well. If it was just going to rehash what I'd seen on TV, then what was the point?

Luckily, Damico has taken the familiar concept in a totally brand new direction, and besides for the fact that George (from Dead Like Me) and Lex are both teenage grim reapers, the similarities end there. Lucky for Lex, she didn't have to die to become a grim reaper, though she did have to get sent away to the tiny and mysterious town of Croak to live with her over-the-top and scary uncle, appropriately named Mort. Mort's not the only one with a convenient name, Croak is jam-packed with them, everything from a gym named "Dead Weight" to other Grim towns like DeMeyse and Necropolis. Somehow, Damico manages to stop before going overboard, and instead just make the subtle death references really entertaining.

Lex isn't one of those main characters that is instantly likeable– she's violent and rude. Once she gets to Croak, it's not like her love of punching people suddenly makes her somebody I'd want to befriend, but it does seem more understandable given her career of killing people. Plus, fulfilling her destiny does mellow Lex out a bit. Still, I loved her angst and her dark twisted humour. Lex has such a sharp, clear personality, and I felt a connection with her that is hard to achieve in third person point of view, but which Damico executes* flawlessly.

As much as I enjoyed the relationship between Lex and her reaper partner, Driggs, there was one instance near the end that had me rolling my eyes a bit. Their snark was irresistible, and I just kept wanting them to make out already. Saying more about the event I disliked would spoil part of the book, but it involved a photograph and felt like it cheated the authentic development Damico had written thus far.

Croak is also a flat-out hilarious book, which is incredibly refreshing among a sea of paranormals that take themselves too seriously. Croak is a well thought-out and believable world, all the details seem to have been considered, but it's also filled with people who swear and joke and make the novel, despite its fantastical elements, seem completely real. I'm just glad I only have to wait a few months for book number 2, Scorch, due out in September. Croak is a fantastic, hilarious, cleverly brilliant start to a brand new series from a talented debut author and I just hope Damico has plenty of fresh puns stored up because I'll be eagerly awaiting them.

*pun fully intended

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

Release Date: April 10th 2012
Pages: 448
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Random House
Buy It: Book Depository

While working on a project translating letters from sixteenth-century Prague, high school senior Nora Kane discovers her best friend murdered, with her boyfriend the apparent killer and is caught up in a dangerous web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all searching for a mysterious ancient device purported to allow direct communication with God.

This book was weird because the first quarter was pretty much a contemporary tale of grief, which was well-written but not exactly a page turner, and given the blurb, I was definitely expecting more action and a little less emotion. About a hundred pages in, I got it, as The Book of Blood and Shadow took an adventure-packed twist into a YA DaVinci code, filled with mystery, history and the streets of Prague. It wasn't that I disliked the first quarter of the book, but in the context of the whole novel, it felt like an awfully slow beginning to an exciting story, and I wasn't quite sure that they belonged together.

One thing I particularly loved about the last three quarters of The Book of Blood and Shadow is the setting: Prague! It's amazing when an author brings to life a city, just like Stephanie Perkins did for Paris in Anna and The French Kiss only this time it's the seedy underbelly. Wasserman is also a really smart writer, she doesn't dumb down the language or the story for young adult readers, and it makes for an intelligent, heart-pounding and articulate book.

Some of the secondary characters felt a little one dimensional to me, in particular Chris and Adriane, which was a little surprising given the time spent introducing them. That said, as a narrator Nora was authentic and emotionally engaging. I also enjoyed the mystery and intrigue of Eli, as well as finding him a very attractive character, and loved how all the pieces fell into place once everything was revealed.

Despite its slow, but emotional, start The Book of Blood and Shadow was an intense and exciting adventure story, well-executed and filled with twists and turns. I haven't read any of Wasserman's previous novels, but she definitely caught my interest and I loved her intelligent storyline and smart writing. I will definitely be picking up more by her in the future. 

Oh, and this might totally have been cheating, but my twin sister has an honours degree in Classics so I totally had her check the Latin at one point. I'm not sure what I expected, but just so you know, Wasserman got it right.

It's Monday, what are you reading? (20)

Hosted by The Book Journey

The good thing about not finishing a billion books this week is I get to make the covers nice and big and pretty. Honestly though, I would have loved to read more, but only so many hours etc. Here's what I did manage.

Last week I finished reading:
The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

This book was weird because it was like 3/4 teen DaVinci code, and 1/4 contemporary tale of grief. I liked both, but wasn't exactly sure they belonged together. Still, Wasserman is a smart writer and I'm definitely interested in picking up her previous works.

Croak by Gina Damico

I buddy read this one with Ambur, and she had to impatiently wait for me to catch up this week. But then I did, and then I couldn't stop. Hilarious and awesome, dark and twisted. I'm just glad I only have to wait a few months for book number 2 in this brand new series from this talented debut author.

What I plan to read this week:
Radio Belly by Buffy Cram

So far a wickedly clever and poetic (somehow a combination that works) collection of short stories. I'm about halfway done and loving it.

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

In case my gush-fest over Hubbard's debut, Like Mandarin, didn't make it clear, I'm pretty excited to start her second novel. And I'm not waiting.

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

Is, but I meant to, a good excuse for why I didn't read it this week? This upcoming week, for sure!

What are you reading this Monday?

Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill

Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill

Release Date: September 2nd 2011
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Greystone Books
Buy It: Book Depository

Gill offers up a slice of tree-planting life in all of its soggy, gritty exuberance while questioning the ability of conifer plantations to replace original forests, which evolved over millennia into intricate, complex ecosystems. Among other topics, she also touches on the boom-and-bust history of logging and the versatility of wood, from which we have devised countless creations as diverse as textiles and airplane parts.

As somebody who once got a job as a tree-planter, only to end up quitting before I even started when a parent got married the same summer I was supposed to work, I was especially intrigued in picking up this look into the life of a career tree-planter. Gill worked as a tree-planter for 20 years, and all I can say is: she should have been writing.

Well, maybe not, because then we wouldn't have gotten this incredible memoir, Eating Dirt. It's one of those books that manages to mix the personal and the factual in a smooth and interesting way. Gill covers all kinds of history: logging, tree-planting, agriculture, and other plant uses. Because of the non-fiction distractions, the chronology of Eating Dirt can be a bit confusing at times– I'm not sure, but I think that the ending took place before another chunk of the book. It probably wasn't helped by the fact that I took a three month break while reading the memoir though. I'm so glad I went back to Eating Dirt when I was ready for it, instead of swamped with school work, because it's really a poetic and amazingly written book.

Gill has some funny anecdotes, some emotional ones, and even some scary ones (Mama Bear anyone?). It makes Eating Dirt a great mix of stories, held together by her clear love for tree-planting. It's hard to imagine somebody doing this voluntarily, and the memoir is filled with an eclectic cast of people who do. I love the way the tree planters are mostly called "we" throughout the book, because it just makes it clear what a strong connection this kind of experience forms. Assuming that Gill has retired from tree-planting, I wish there had been a little insight into what it was like for her afterwards, but given that the book follows only one year, that probably would have required an epilogue.

I'm not sure I can recommend this book if you are considering planting trees. On one hand, it's a vivid insight into the job. On the other hand, I'm now one hundred percent glad I missed out on the opportunity to do. Eating Dirt exposes what life is like planting trees, peels away the bark to the soft underbelly, and the result is a beautiful and brutal exploration of a unique career and the people who choose it.

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

 Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

Release Date: March 8th 2011
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Random House
Buy It: Book Depository

It's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin. Then they're united for a project and form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and searching for someplace magic. All too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no friendship can withstand betrayal.

I've been following Kristen Hubbard's blog since way before Like Mandarin was released, and I've owned the book itself for months, so I'm not sure exactly why I stalled at reading it. I think it was just one of those cases where everything I saw said this was exactly a "me" book, one I would completely fall in love with. It wasn't the case of being scared off by hype, like I was with Stephanie Perkins, because this novel hasn't gotten nearly as much as it deserves. It was a case of wanting to save something for later.

Now that Hubbard's second novel, Wanderlove, has been released, I knew saving her debut any longer was getting ridiculous, and I finally picked it up and fell in love. As lovely as the language is from page one, it took me a little while to fall in with the characters, especially Grace. She seems like an incredibly old fourteen year old at times, and she also is prone to saying something when her actions proclaim otherwise. For example, at the beginning of Like Mandarin, Grace says she's not a stalker, then she describes hiding and watching Mandarin go to work... sounds pretty stalkerish to me. But after awhile the minor things didn't matter so much anymore, and as Mandarin and Grace's friendship developed, so did my adoration for this novel.

Like Mandarin is a novel that the reader soaks up, is transported into. I have never been Wyoming, but Hubbard made me feel like that little town was real. It was one of the most beautiful settings I have ever read, and it doesn't surprise me that the author is also a travel writer. Mandarin is also one of those charming bad-girls, like Ruby in Stephanie Guerra's Torn and Nova Ren Suma's Imaginary Girls. The kind of character that may be a terrible influence, but that as a reader you can't help falling in love with. She is sensuous and rebellious. Describing her many sexual encounters, Grace says:

"Mandarin never broadcasted her flings the way other students did. She never parked at the A&W for floats and chicken fingers, or copped feels under blankets at autumn bonfires. All that was too time-consuming. Mandarin treated her men like the apples she bit the good parts from, then pitched; like the still-smoldering cigarettes she famously crushed beneath her bare feet.

I wondered how many of them she thought about afterward, and which ones, and why."

These are the kind of vivid images that last long after the final page of the novel. This is the kind of book that you think about afterwards. Like Mandarin is not only an incredible debut, it's an incredible novel, and as patient as I was with picking it up, I have a feeling I will be falling into Hubbard's second novel, Wanderlove, in the very near future. 

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

 Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Release Date: January 5th 2010
Pages: 246
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Also by this Author: Cracked Up To Be
Buy It: Book Depository

Frozen out of her clique after vicious rumors circulate, Regina Afton takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit whom she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be "more" than just a friend.

I really enjoyed Courtney Summer's debut novel, Cracked Up To Be, but even before I finished it I was excitedly looking forward to her second book, Some Girls Are. Jordyn over at Ten Cent Notes can be blamed at least partially for that– but I'm glad her enthusiasm was contagious because I absolutely adored this novel. Some Girls Are is the kind of book I think should be mandatory teenage reading. It's rough and raw, and completely authentic.

Like Parker in Cracked Up To Be, Regina isn't the most lovable main character but real people aren't always wonderful and caring. Regina felt real, and it was great to see her develop and grow throughout the novel. It's amazing how well Some Girls Are captures not only what it is like to be bullied, but also some what happens on the other side of the situation like when Regina learns firsthand the hurt she's caused others in the past.

Some of the minor characters aren't fleshed out quite as well as Regina, and I was also perplexed by how severe the bullying got without the school administration getting involved, but those are minor note in an otherwise really impressive book. Summers tackles major issues with a strong and determined book, including one absolutely terrifying scene in a closet (I won't say any more in order to avoid spoilers).

A heart-breaking and vivid novel, Some Girls Are was compelling from the first to the last page. I certainly plan to read more by Summers in the future.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
 
Release Date: March 2nd 2010
Pages: 470
Format: Hardcover
Source: Won
Publisher: Harper Collins
Also by this Author: Delirium; Liesl & Po; Pandemonium
Buy It: Book Depository

A terrible accident takes Samantha Kingston's life. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she relives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

This novel wasn't perfect, but it was incredible. This is the fourth book I've read by Lauren Oliver, and sadly it's the final one she's published (so far, at least). It's also her debut novel, which makes it even more impressive in retrospect.

At first glance, the idea of reliving the same day seven times seems like it would be very repetitive and dull. But by changing tiny actions, Sam alters the course of the day, and ultimately, her life. The way Oliver accomplishes this means that with each new day, the reader learns new, and crucial information about Sam. There was only one of the seven days– when she steals her mom's credit card and spends it with a new group of a gossipy friends– that had me less interested. The main reason for that was the introduction of a whole bunch more characters, that I didn't really have a chance to care about. My other minor peeve with the novel was Oliver's description of eyes, sky blue and grass green, that get re-used (for the same two characters, but still) too often for my own taste.

Otherwise, Before I Fall was an incredible and original novel. From the first scene, Sam isn't a likable main character, but she did grow on me throughout the novel, and while some of her friends (Lindsey) didn't, at least I came to understand them better. I love the way Oliver slips the reader into the mind of the bully, the popular girl, the one that as a reader, I've heard from a whole lot less than the recluse or outcast. Despite everything Sam does, and the growth she undergoes, there were still things I didn't like about her at the end, but that only makes her more human.

As in her other novels, Oliver's writing in Before I Fall is impeccable, with just the right amount of beautiful description, mixed with easy to read text, clear storylines and authentic characters. Even before I picked up this novel, Lauren Oliver was one of my very favourite writers, but this book just reminds me why. Her incredible skill as a writer, her amazing ability to get inside a character's head– and to share those emotions and conflicts on the page– continues to astound me. I keep using the word incredible in this review, because it's what keeps running through my head as I think back at this book, and what will certainly be its lasting impact.

Before I Fall has easily gained a place in the list of my favourite novels, comfortably at home with Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, the book that got me to start reading young adult fiction again. And I'm so glad I did, or I never would have discovered this amazing gem.

Torn by Stephanie Guerra

Torn by Stephanie Guerra

Release Date: April 1st, 2012
Pages: 263
Format: E-galley
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Buy It: Book Depository

High school senior Stella's life centers on helping her mother raise her younger brother and sister, AP classes, and soccer until a new student, Ruby, draws her into a friendship that includes sneaking out out of the house, dating college boys, and worse. But Ruby has a darker side, a side she doesn’t show anyone—not even Stella. As Stella watches her friend slowly unravel, she will have to search deep inside herself for the strength to be a true friend, even if it means committing the ultimate betrayal.

I really liked the bad girl in this book, Ruby, who reminds me an awful lot of Ruby from Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma just because of her charismatic nature and her don't give a damn attitude. Stella wasn't the most interesting character, though I could definitely sympathize with the pressure she feels from all the responsibility of helping with her siblings, and how that could lead her to a breaking point. There was also the aspect of Stella being part Mexican, which could have been interesting but felt like it was dealt with in a way that was slightly boring and not memorable. If it was going to be important to the story, I wanted a little more out of it.

The friendship between Stella and Ruby did feel authentic though, and was probably my favourite component of Torn. However, my major problem with this book is that the biggest revelation / change of heart happens off-stage. After being so involved with Ruby, I felt like I was cheated. It also all seemed to happen pretty suddenly, and things worked out a little too well in the end. The ending caused Torn to lose some of its well-earned authenticity, because it's rare that everything gets wrapped up so neatly. After the dark detours that Guerra took the reader on, I guess I was surprised at the niceness of the final destination.

Overall, Guerra's debut deals with some relevant themes in a realistic and moving way, and although the main character wasn't that interesting, the sharp edge of her best friend compensated enough to make it an enjoyable read even if the climax and ending didn't quite live up to the book's potential.

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

The Way We Fall (Fallen World #1) by Megan Crewe

Release Date: January 24th 2012
Pages: 309
Format: E-galley
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Buy It: Book Depository

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back. Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest. Because how will she go on if there isn’t?

Admittedly a lot of this novel reminded me of Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life As We Knew It, and the fact that it is basically told in journal entries (technically she's writing somebody, but she's not sending the letters, so it might as well be a journal) probably doesn't help that cause. Although it's got a similar post-apocalyptic feeling to it, The Way We Fall has the distinction of being set entirely on one island, contained but separate, while Kaelyn doesn't really know what's going on in the rest of the world, though there are hints.

While there was a lot I loved about this island, like the fact that it was Canadian, and how much scarier it was that they were cut off from the world both literally and figuratively, I admit something left me perplexed. Apparently it was in Nova Scotia, which is awesome, but there are references to Halifax and Ottawa, but nowhere in between. It seems to imply that the island is located somewhere in the middle, while ignoring other cities like Montreal, that would certainly have been closer than Ottawa, if it was in fact Nova Scotia Crewe was writing about. So that's my Canadian geography confusion, left even more perplexed by the fact that the author is actually Canadian. I did read an advance copy, I wonder if anyone who picked up a finished edition noticed the same thing? Did I just misread the book / am I crazy?

Location ramble aside, something I really loved was that, despite being a book about a very deadly virus, many of the important deaths in The Way We Fall are not from infection. Instead, they are caused by consequences stemming from what the virus has done to people and society. It was really near to see how far the impact could spread, so that even those who were healthy weren't necessary safe.

I also enjoyed Kaelyn's unexpected love interest, I could really see how these two people came together in a tragic time, which felt believable. I liked the fact that Kaelyn was biracial– having lived in Nova Scotia for several years, I could appreciate that she would have been a minority, and in certain situations the fact that it made her stand out added an interesting dimension.

The scientific aspect of The Way We Fall was where I had a bigger issue, though I admit to being a grad student in biology which might make me both more informed, and more curious, about it than the average reader. One of my favourite recent films is Contagion, and likely because the novel is told from the perspective of a teenage girl, The Way We Fall lacked some of the detail I was hoping for. Still, I have definitely read other post-apocalyptic type YA books where a teenage narrator didn't prevent the author from giving a more thorough explanation of what was going on, for example the medical mystery in Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien.

The ending of The Way We Fall fell into the "meh" category for series, I didn't feel like I had quite enough answered, but I guess more is being saved for book #2, The Lives We Lost. I'm not entirely sure if this is a trilogy I'll be continuing but there was enough I enjoyed about The Way We Fall that, should the next novel catch my interest, I'll certainly give it a try.

It's Monday, what are you reading? (19)

Hosted by The Book Journey

Last week I finished reading:
Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill

Gill's writing and description is incredible, and I really hope she has plans to write something else following this memoir. She's got a short story collection out I'll definitely have to buy. Also, even though I once had plans to do so (back when I was really broke in first year university), I officially never want to work as a tree planter.

The Stone Girl by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

It's weird reading such a personal narrative written in the third person (present tense too, which isn't a frequent style) and I'm not sure that I exactly like that. But the premise, cover, and the fact that the author herself struggled with eating disorder and wrote a very moving author's note, make me want to keep giving this one a try. I'm glad I did, it's a very sad story but a powerful one.

What I plan to read this week:
The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

This is a bulky 448 pager so it took up more of my week than I was planning. Plus, I went home for Passover and was distracted by family and things outside of a novel (doesn't that suck?). The first quarter is like a contemporary novel, and then all of a sudden there is the adventure and action promised in the blurb. Even though the first quarter is well written, now that I'm halfway through, I'm feeling like a lot of it could have been cut.

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

Wow for a book I loved the first 25 pages of, I'm not sure what my excuse for taking so long to read this is. See the above about family and the bulky book of blood and shadow?

The Whole Story of Half A Girl by Veera Hiranandani

Another one I didn't get to last week, but that looks awesome. 

What are you reading this Monday?

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Note: This review contains no spoilers of Pandemonium, but does contain spoilers of the first book in the series, Delirium, a review of which can be found here. 

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

Release Date: February 28th 2012
Pages: 375
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Harper Collins
Also by this Author: Delirium (Delirium #1); Liesl & Po
Buy It: Book Depository

After falling in love, Lena and Alex flee their oppressive society where love is outlawed and everyone must receive "the cure"--an operation that makes them immune to the delirium of love--but Lena alone manages to find her way to a community of resistance fighters, and although she is bereft without the boy she loves, her struggles seem to be leading her toward a new love.

I'll start by getting this out of the way. There was only one thing I didn't like about Pandemonium: the fact that I have to buy a new copy of Delirium if I want my books to match.

Other than that, pure genius.

Because this is the third book I'd read by Lauren Oliver, I knew what to expect when it came to her writing. Perfect tiny details, beautiful images, easy flow, and a raw emotion that is incredibly powerful– Pandemonium delivered. But, if I'm perfectly honest, the book didn't captive me as much as its predecessor, Delirium. I didn't read it in the same rushed spurt. Still, by the time I got to the end, I was absolutely blown away by the way things turned out, and though I may have had my suspicions about the final reveal, that didn't stop it from absolutely tearing my heart out of my chest.

Like I said, pure genius.

Pandemonium transitions between two Lenas, "then" and "now" which alternate every chapter for a chunk of the book, telling the story of the last year, and then the "now" which picks up a year following the events of Delirium. The technique worked okay, as some of the most emotional portions were past events, but I think I would have preferred it in chronological order. My reason for that, is that Lena is grieving over Alex, but when as a reader I was regularly skipped ahead, it was more difficult to see the evolution of that grief. Still, like her middle grade novel Liesl & Po, Oliver captures the grief in a pure, heart-breaking and genuine way. 

As a middle book in a trilogy, I really appreciated how much of a complete story Pandemonium told on its own. There was also a lot of character growth when it came to Lena, and I think that, without Alex to fall back on, she really had to learn to stand on her own. As much as I loved her in Delirium, it was great seeing the character develop and her become less meek. Oliver made her feel like a real person that way. I still missed Alex though!

And actually, I lied. There were actually two things I disliked about Pandemonium. The second thing was that it ended, and now I have to wait another year to finally read the last novel in the trilogy, Requiem. With those final few intense pages of Pandemonium, Oliver has me incredibly anxious to find out how things end for Lena.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Release Date: September 29th 2011
Pages: 338
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Penguin
Also by this Author: Anna and the French Kiss
Buy It: Book Depository

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion... she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

Unlike Anna and the French Kiss, which I technically lied about devouring since in between putting down the audio book and picking up a hard copy there were several months where it lay dejected on my, albeit crowded, bookshelf, I really did devour Perkins second novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door in less than twenty four hours.

So in reality, I didn't love Lola quite as much as Anna, and that had a lot to do with the main character herself. The love interest this time around, Cricket, was incredibly charming– even if I don't quite get the fascination with guys wearing tight pants, and he had believable chemistry with Lola. But unfortunately, Lola herself tended to be kinda flaky, other times arrogant, and sometimes even flat out dishonest, in a way I didn't find entirely attractive. I had a hard time relating to her fashion obsession, and I really disliked how she lead Cricket on, while continuing to stay with her boyfriend, who was definitely a jerk, but didn't deserve how she treated him.

Asides from Lola getting on my nerves occasionally, I really did love this novel. There's a huge presence of Anna and St. Clair, and that was charming and wonderful to read about. Lola's family played a huge role in her life, which is always refreshing in YA, and Perkins did a great job with making the dynamic authentic and entertaining. There's a brand new cast of entertaining and unique characters brought to life in Lola and the Boy Next Door. And of course, there's Perkins' ever present, adorable sense of humour.

Lola wasn't a second Anna, but a wonderful story in its own right, and even if I didn't always like the protagonist, I definitely still consider myself a Stephanie Perkins fan for life. After reading her two first novels, it's hard for me to imagine Perkins ever writing anything that I would not read– grocery lists and instructions for using dental floss included. 

The Night She Disappeared by April Henry

The Night She Disappeared by April Henry

Release Date: March 13th 2012
Pages: 240
Format: E-galley
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Buy It: Book Depository

Gabie drives a Mini Cooper and works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is.

I'd been wanting to read April Henry's last novel, Girl, Stolen since it was released, but still haven't managed to, so when I got my hands on a (virtual) copy of her last YA mystery, I had to dive into it almost immediately. Unfortunately, there was quite a lot that didn't work for me in The Night She Disappeared, so that Girl, Stolen may disappear from my To Read list.

First, there were too many points of view for me, Gabie, Kayla, Drew, the killer, and the result was that I never really connected to any of them. In general, I don't like more than two perspectives, but especially in a book this short. The most authentic POV, for me, and the most interesting, was Gabie's, and maybe if it had been her voice for the full novel, I would have felt less disconnected from her.

I thought that the premise of this kind of survivor's guilt that Gabie feels was really interesting, but when it delved into a paranormal connection, The Night She Disappeared totally lost me. It didn't have the creepy feel that I look for in a genuine paranormal thriller, and it came across as a throwaway.

What Henry is great at is tension and excitement, this novel has a ton of action packed into its pages, and she doesn't mince words. But, my biggest disappointment for The Night She Disappeared as a mystery novel is a slight spoiler (so highlight to read): you can't actually figure out who the killer is, which seems ridiculous because that's my favourite part about mysteries is trying to find the clues, only in this book there aren't any. Unlike other novels where you constantly suspect everyone, here I suspected nobody. And to me, that was more annoying than cutting edge.

In addition to the various POVs, the novel also had transcripts and police records included, which I thought was a pretty neat way to give a fuller picture of the investigation. Overall, though the premise was intriguing and the storyline was fast-paced, The Night She Disappeared didn't have enough emotional connection for me, and I was disappointed by the book as a whole, but particularly the final reveal.